IBM InfoSphere Optim vs Toad for Oracle comparison

IBM and Quest Software are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. IBM is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.0, while Quest Software is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.0. IBM holds a 2.5% mindshare in DDM, compared to Quest Software’s 4.3% mindshare. Additionally, 75% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Read 4 IBM InfoSphere Optim reviews

617 Views
531 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

Toad for Oracle

Read 16 Toad for Oracle reviews

1,065 Views
1,033 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Toad for Oracle

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

IBM InfoSphere Optim and Toad for Oracle compete in database management and optimization. Toad for Oracle seems to have the upper hand with its feature-set versatility and ease of deployment.

Features: IBM InfoSphere Optim is known for data archiving, application retirement, and data privacy, focusing on lifecycle management and compliance. Toad for Oracle is noted for database development, query building, and real-time insights aiming at development and optimization.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM InfoSphere Optim involves a complex deployment with strong customer support. Toad for Oracle offers a simple installation, intuitive interface, and effective support.

Pricing and ROI: IBM InfoSphere Optim has higher initial setup costs, focusing on data governance and compliance ROI. Toad for Oracle is more cost-effective, emphasizing productivity and reduced manual errors.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle

July 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 865,384 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Ranking in Database Development and Management

16th

Average Rating

6.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Toad for Oracle

Ranking in Database Development and Management

7th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Optim is 2.5%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Toad for Oracle is 4.3%, down from 5.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Development and Management

Featured Reviews

Kenneth Estanislao

Solutions Designer at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees

Backups become efficient while cost concerns remain

I am still working with IBM and we are transitioning to other tools rather than using IBM InfoSphere Optim. We use other tools, but I cannot recall the name because I am not the one currently handling it. It has transitioned to other architects. For IBM InfoSphere Optim, we are still currently using it, but we have transitioned to the newer version, the latest one with support for AWS S3. I cannot identify a main competitor for IBM InfoSphere Optim because we have transitioned to other architects, and they are the ones looking for other tools. The last comparison I did was almost 4 years ago. I am not using any AI technology with IBM InfoSphere Optim. I rate IBM InfoSphere Optim a seven out of ten. The tool is good, but the price is not favorable as it is the most expensive part. I can recommend IBM InfoSphere Optim for enterprises.

Read full review

Bikramjeet Singh

Senior Reg Reporting Consultant at Bank of America

Advanced query optimization and tuning features

Sometimes when I write a query, it gives an unusual error code. Toad for Oracle does not have a particular resolution within the application. Then, I have to search for the code and find a solution. I would like Oracle to implement error codes so that we don't have to search for solutions on Google. It would be more convenient if the error codes were included within the application.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We like that we can easily restore the database with just a few clicks. The database is linked as well."

"The compression feature is valuable because it achieves around 80% compression."

"I feel the solution to be a bit faster than the traditional methods, which makes it easy to customize."

"The product's most valuable features are UI and monitoring."

"One of the most valuable features of Toad for Oracle is its ability to manage sessions by killing those that are hung or blocking other sessions."

"The best product for working with Oracle databases for support, checking and loading data."

"The tool evaluates non-optimized queries and generates the queries in a way that is more optimal - in addition to giving us some good practices for code development."

"Oracle has advanced query optimization and tuning features that help improve the performance of SQL queries."

"The most valuable feature is the navigation within the UI, where you can right-click on an object in an SQL query and go right to it, versus going through all of the menus to find what you are looking for."

"It is very easy to manage all of the objects."

"Toad for Oracle has proven to be better than other tools since we have never experienced any crashes."

More Toad for Oracle pros

Cons

"While the solution is very supportive of Db2, it is not so friendly when it comes to IMS databases."

"The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive."

"We're looking for a solution that can be implemented on AWS. IBM InfoSphere Optim can be implemented on AWS, but it costs more than double what we're currently paying. So, it's not really of good value for us."

"Toad for Oracle could improve code completion, it is very slow."

"In future releases, the product can be more intuitive. It has to be lighter than what it is because sometimes it is not responding quickly. If I do some features at the same time, it's not supporting. I have to wait sometimes to get the action. It's dependent on the resources of the workstation, but it has to be improved in this area. The faster processing is needed."

"I would like to see an improvement in the performance because opening the browser and the editor should be faster."

"Once in a while, I may encounter a memory exception and have to abort the application. On a few occasions, the file that stores the saved connections for the New Connection window will become corrupt and I will lose all of my saved connections. I am not sure if that is a Windows or TOAD issue, but it has happened to all of my developers at some point or another."

"It would be beneficial if Toad for Oracle could incorporate OEM features, as having monitoring capabilities in the same interface would simplify workload and management tasks."

"It would be better if they had an online option allowing me to connect from anywhere on any device. Sometimes I face some errors, depending on the network and setup. It's not a big issue."

"Query optimization is still very resource-intensive."

"There may be an issue with processing limitations but this cannot be confirmed as a problem with the product or with the newest releases."

More Toad for Oracle cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"IBM InfoSphere Optim is a very expensive solution. Actually, it's the most expensive archiving solution that we have."

"In my opinion, this solution is a little expensive, but I understand that good programs cost more money."

"The pricing is okay, it's reasonable."

"Toad for Oracle has a relatively high cost compared to other similar tools."

"My advice is to try to use the three-year maintenance agreement if possible."

"I would rate it six, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

"The product's pricing is just right because if it were slightly higher, it would not have been as widely adopted as it currently is in our organization."

"There are paid and free-for-use versions of the product."

"The professional edition is about $1,000 AUD ($700 USD) and the developer version is about twice that much."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Database Development and Management solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

27%

Insurance Company

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

19%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

11%

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere Optim?

The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive. Currently, there are no issues with IBM InfoSphere Optim; the only problem is the cost, whic...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim?

My current use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim is just for doing backups. We are using IBM InfoSphere Optim specifically for backup purposes.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering IBM InfoSphere Optim?

See all answers

What do you like most about Toad for Oracle?

The product's most valuable features are UI and monitoring.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Toad for Oracle?

The licensing cost for Toad for Oracle is relatively high, with their license and DPA suite totaling around five thousand dollars.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Toad for Oracle?

It would be beneficial if Toad for Oracle could incorporate OEM features, as having monitoring capabilities in the same interface would simplify workload and management tasks.

See all answers

Comparisons

Informatica Data Archive vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 66% of the time

Oracle Enterprise Manager vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 34% of the time

More IBM InfoSphere Optim Competitors

Toad Edge vs Toad for Oracle

Compared 25% of the time

Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials vs Toad for Oracle

Compared 23% of the time

Oracle Enterprise Manager vs Toad for Oracle

Compared 16% of the time

Toad Data Modeler vs Toad for Oracle

Compared 15% of the time

DbVisualizer vs Toad for Oracle

Compared 13% of the time

More Toad for Oracle Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

July 2025

Download IBM InfoSphere Optim product report

Buyer's Guide

Toad for Oracle

July 2025

Download Toad for Oracle product report

Also Known As

IBM Optim, Optim

No data available

Overview

IBM Optim solutions manage data from requirements to retirement. They boost performance, empower collaboration, and improve governance across applications, databases and platforms. By managing data properly over its lifetime, organisations are better equipped to support business goals with less risk.

IBM

With Toad for Oracle, you'll reduce costs and risks by easily ensuring the health and performance of your Oracle Cloud Platform and on-premises databases. ... On the operations side, you can automate administration tasks and proactively manage your databases while embracing performance optimization and risk mitigation.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Durham Police Department, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Continental, KCE Electronics Public Company Limited, The University of Adelaide, Migros Zurich, COPROB

intel, ebay, uber, mars, microsoft

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle

July 2025

Free Report: IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Toad for Oracle report.

See our list of best Database Development and Management vendors.

We monitor all Database Development and Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.